Folding bed



M. D. MIESNER Aug. 5, 1952 FOLDING BED 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Nov. 1, 1946 Y O M N m Wm A l N M0 N/EsnsR =3 No Q 3. m

Aug. 5, 1952 Filed Nov. 1, 1946 M. D. MIESNER FOLDING BED 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ATTORNEY z enerally at the line ll in Figure 2. b

'Figure 2 is a side view showing the unfolded' "bed frame and a sectional elevation of the cabi- Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES: .PATEN T Q F1ce...-;;

2,so5,4 s V FOLDING BED I rti n).tn siir, n r le ,iq gf. Application November 1, 194e, seri l-Neutr no 6 Claims- Q 6 The nv n o el es" o. t e-fr m st uc u q zaio d ne bed.

An; object of the invention is to provide a foldingbed structure, which is concealedly foldable intoacabinet'having the appearance of a stand; -01? the like.

"Another object is to provide for a fold-ingof the bed into a particularly small space.

A-further object is to provide a folding bed .of

the'ch-aracter described which is particular'strong in a particularly" tually parallel-axes between folded and ur folded relations thereon The present foot, section H "comprises members I 5- and a connecting crossmemb e defining the foot end; of the frame. Preferably, and as shown, the side members I5 are of angle section having corresponding flanges li -thereto define the section side boundaries while other flanges I5 are mutually coplanar tended' -T-he present cross "member i v of angle section and has the extremities bottom flanges l5" fixed to and upon its bottpm flange 16'', while the ends of its other flange [6 are cut awayto permit the-mounting of a factboard assembly I! on and-between the flanges l5 for swinging between operative and'in perative positions thereof.

The footboard assembly-l1 comprises L -shaped side arms I8 extending froma hinged-connec- Figure 1 is a plan view r the unfolded bed 1 frame and a plan section of the cabinet taken net from which the frame isextended.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View at the line 3-3 in Figure 1. e Figure {is a view, of the structure of Figure 3,

aiqo hoa d, me b r b ng s w vas folded 4 the beqdine i ewiqw he bee fram m zl ii ldesi soncli ien area ul en qse Wi in th cab netre .6 i 'asideeleva ig 9 the i ded rem io l wi is an o e in of th wh m? Preceding aclosing: of the cabinet.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary elevation takenat the line 1-1 in Figure 6. I p H Fig-ure'S is a fragmentary elevation taken at the broken line 8-8 in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section at the line 99 in Figure 6.

'By reference to the drawings it will be seen that the present bed frame generally comprises a plurality of sections which are hingedly related forooplanar extension to'su'pport bedding as a made-up bed for use, or be rolled up with 1.4, and "the four sections are 'hingedly attached incoltder for'their relative swinging about .mu-

frame sides 15 adjacent the member Iii and carry a connecting 'footboard I 9 .between th eir other portions 18''. Pivot pins 20jconnect; the arm portions I8 to the flanges L5 at'thej-inner faces 'of said flanges, and tensionspringsrzlponnect the arm portions 18' with 'anch0ra'ges.,=in the flanges l5 in such a manner that the lines "of the springs 2|. lie at opposite. sides :of" the common axi-a1- line of the pins 20 Whenthefootboardis erected for use or. disposed oppositethe its limiting positions;

frame section 1 I; see Figures 3" and .4.-- The flanges l5" are cooperative with thelarmzpqrtions" l8" as stops to limit the extended dishesal of the footboard to'a desired operative position, and the footboard 19 is. arranged 'toqoperate as a spring-pressed clamp jaw upon jbedding mounted onthe frame when "it is folded-down upon' the bedding; it will'be understood 'thatJ-the action'of the springZI is operative toyieldingly urge 'the disposal of the footboard'in either 30f The frame section 12 comprises side members 23 of angle section hingedly connected to and between the' sections II and 13'; while: therseqtion l3 comprises sidemembers .24 connected by a spreader bar 25 at connectionsz25 therefor, the members 24 being of angle section and being mutually positioned and spaced as the side members [510i the, foot section H .for a-imutual alignment of corresponding-said side members when the frame is'fully extended. '1-l 1e gside members 23 of the. section]? have their coplanar flanges'2'3" arranged for abutting enga eme t flanges 23" of the side members I and 23 respectively when their frame is extended, and have connected by a head cross-member 29 of the frame, said side members being spaced as are the members 23 of the frame section I2 and opposed side members 28 of angle section fixedly having the foot ends of their mutually parallel flanges 28' extending inwardly of and pivotally connected with the head ends of the flanges '23 of the members 24 ofthe section I3 by means of pivot pins 3I engaged'between their upright flanges 28 and the opposed flanges'24' of the I members 24 of the section I3 by means of pivot pins '3l engaged between their upright flanges 28'-"an'd the opposed flanges 24' of the members 24. When the section III is coplanar with the lsection-I3, the bottom flanges 28" of the mem- 7 bets 2% are arranged to abut the ends of the corresponding flanges 24" of the members 24 as a means to limit the relative swinging of the members in an unfolding direction while peri mitting a hinging action in the folding direction, 7

extensions 31 to connections with pivot pins 40 mounted in the flanges 23 of the section I2. The arrangement is such that when sections II and I2 are coplanar, the legs 35 extend transversely from the section II as a support means, and are automatically folded into positions generally opposite the adjacent members I5 when the sections are mutually perpendicular. I The legs 36 are generallysimilar to; the legs 35 and are connected to the members 24 of the section I3 at pivot pins 42. Lateral extensions 43 of the legs 36 are connected with the members 28 of the section I4 by means of links 54 connected to the extensions and members at pivot pins 45 and 36 respectively, the control for the legs 36 corresponding to that for the legs 35.

' 7 Aside from their'leg -positioning functions, the links 38 and M5 are operative to stiffen the extended frame against buckling at the pivot pins 26 and 3!, and to that end are somewhat "L-shaped, having lateral extensions 38' and 54 I ends. In the present structure the link portions It will now be noted that the folded bed frame structure is arranged tobe supported in a cabinet which is closable to conceal the bed and present the appearance 'of a stand or dresser or other usual piece of household furniture. In the present structure members 32 extend transversely from and along the outer faces of the flanges 28'for guided and sliding engagement with horizontalchannel tracks 33 carried by the sides of a" cabinet 34 of the bed assembly. As particularly shown, the members 32 extend laterally "from-"the: tops of the flanges 28' whereby the "members 28 are 'of Z-bar section thereat; and the tracks33 are mounted on pairs of mutually spaced offset brackets 33'. c

When the present bed is fully extended, as is shown in Figuresl and 2, the sections II and I2 and I3 and I4 are coplanar in a plane including or parallel to the plane of support provided by the tracks 32, and means are provided forsupporting the sections II'and I2 and I3 directly from the same floor surface which supports the cabinet 36. As particularly shown, the frame sec- 'tions II and I3 are provided with legs 35 and 36 hingedly pivoted to their sidemembers I5 and 24 respectively and disposable transversely, of the extended frame for the support of the latter or foldable opposite the members I5 and 24 when the bed is folded, the positions "of thelegs 35 and 36 with respect to the sections I2 and I4 being automatically determined by the angular relation of the sectionsv II and I3 with reference to the sections I2 and I4 respectively.

In the present structure, the pivot pins 20 are utilizedas hinge pins "for. the legs 35, andsaid legs are extendedbeyond their pivot points to provide lateral extensions 31 which are arranged to be disposed above the level of the members I 5 and aredirected towardthe head end of the bed when the legs are extended from the frame sec tionsto which they are attached. Links 38 extend from pivot pins 39 at the freeends of the r 38 and 44' are disposed opposite the inner faces ticular and similar leg-control connections provided by the pairs of links 38 and 44, it will be understood that localized pressure on the frame sections betweenthe legs 35 and 36, or between the legs 35 and the support track 33 maynot bend or buckle the frame ata pivot pin26 or 3I res ectively. Y s

The present frame, comprising the succession of connected sections IIra-nd I2 and I3 and I4, serves directly as the frame ofa; spring mattress 41 which is foldable with the frame and is of the link type having intersecting lines of interconnected links 38 attachedat theirends to the bounding elements of the frame through tension springs 48 to provide a yielding support for bedding including ,a usual soft mattress. The spreader bar 25 of the section I3, and any other intermediate spreader bars which may be provided in the, frame structure, are offset downwardly between their ends vto permit depressions of the bedding and spring mattress underthe body of a person reposing thereon. Since, however, the section I3 is to provide one sideof the folded frame structure, the bar connections 25' preferably comprise free swivel connections with up from the foot and into a compact roll of substantially rectangular prism outline as is illustrated in Figures 3 and 5. In folding the frame, it is desirable that the section I I be. moved into its final folded relation of 'perpendicularity to the section I2 before the'lattersection is raised with respect to the section I3, and to this end the pivot "pins 26 preferably connect the side members of the sections II and I2 at points thereof which are appreciably closer to the flanges I5 than are a frameis folded.

c em s .thepivbtr sw fo -the-le wcsitioningl ks 38 ot efla s szfi I In .the present structure, the fcotsectionll is somfiwhatshor-ter than the section 13, and-arest provided on the head section l4ifor engaging @hG'GIld'IIl-GIII-bfllw-lfi of thesection l- [to support the latter; in upright position when the bed; is folded. .As particularly shown, post members 51 extend upwardly from the free corners of the head sectiQ .-l4 and mountsupport shelvesorbrackets 52 "extending therefrom toward the footend of the section for functioning asa-seat to receive the free-corners ofzthe section H; inthe present strueturethe shelves 52 comprise intermediate. z portions of Z-shaped members -53 whichextend between points of-attachment to the post and r the section-side members 128 and -brace the posts vas well-asprovide the seat. The lengths of the {four framesections aresuch-that successive sections ,are substantially perpendicular when the ,It will now be noted 'tha-tthe cabinet 34 comprises-side panels 54 which-mount the track-supporting-brackets- 33, a back panel 55 fixedly con- ,necting the side panels 54, t a topmember .56 connecting the panels 54 and extending forwardly fromtlie-top of the back 133119155, 3. tie member .5! connecting the side panels 54 near their bot- ,toms, a front panel 58 extending between the-side I panels 54. and hinged to the latter panels at its bottom as a drop front for its swinging to and from an. upright position in which it comprises the folded-up bed assembly when the frontpanel 58 and the "topsection 59 'are'cooperative as closure members for said space. The exterior surfaces of the cabinet may be finished in any :desired manner, and the closed cabinet may appear ;as an article of furniture; in the present structure, the outer face of the front p anel 58 ..presents the appearance of a drawer front whereby the closed cabinet resembles a dresser "inappearance while its top may be-used asthe top. of a stand.

The hinged mounting of the front panel 58 is provided by means of mutually coaxial pivot pins 6 l' connecting brackets 62 and 63 fixed respectively to the inner face of the panel 58 and the inner faces of the cabinet sides 54. Each pivot pin 6| is disposed inwardly of and adjacent a forward track-supporting bracket 33' whereby an element 64 of the bracket 62 which receives the pin 6| as a hinge support for the cabinet front 58 may engage the adjacent track-supporting bracket 33 as a stop to limit the lowering of the cabinet front to a horizontal position, as in Figure 5. It will be understood that the bracket members 62 and 63 comprise hinge leaves with respect to the hinged mounting of the front panel 53 on the cabinet.

It will now be noted that the pin-carrying element 64 of each member 62 extends transversely from a base element 66 suitably fixed to the back of the front panel 58, the plane of the elements 64 and 66 being parallel to the side edges of the panel. The outer portion 64' of each element 64 is curved toward the top edge of the panel 58, while the remaining portion 64 is straight and provides the bearing opening for the hinge pin .61. The upperend o'fthe base element-.66 is connected with an intermediate pointof. the curved portion 64 of the element 64 by astrut-rnember '61 riveted to the elements,;the member 62 thus comprising-a bracket which is rigid in its .plane.

Links 68 connect the outer ends of the elemerits 64 to the headlposts 5| of the bed frame, 1 pivotpinsl68 and .68" being provided atthe respective connections. The arrangement is such 10 that. the head section M of the bed frame vis pulled about half-wayout on thesupport tracks 33 when the front panel 58 is swung out-from the cabinet to the limiting horizontal positionshown for it in-Figures .2 and .5,.and is disposedlentirely within the cabinet'sp'acje when the front panel 58" .is' erect in itsoabinet-closing pOSition the lowered panel is preferably spaced frcm theflfoor while far enough below the frame assembly to permit. in use-depression of the spring portion above it. .A link69 connects a point of each element 64 between its terminal pivot v68' and'its connection with thestrut 61 with the top section 59 near its free edge, whereby alswinging of the front panel 58 between open and closed positions will correspondingly swing the top section '59 between openand closed positions. As shown,- a

pivot pin 69' connects'thelink .69 to the element 64 while apivot pin 69 connects the 1ink 69 to'a member '18 fixed to the under side of, the cover illustrated position. This automatically accomplished forwardpositioning of the folded bed and lifting of the top section 59 when the front 58 is lowered serves to provide clearance for ,the required unrolling extension of the bed for its use,

or the rolling up of the bed for its concealment within-the closed cabinet, while providing clear- ,ance at the headof the extended bed. It will be understood, however, that the head frame section 44 might be fixed in the cabinet; in the latter ,event, the top section 59, while under the control of links operating as the links 69', must be higher and/or wider to provide the necessary clearance for an unfolding or folding of the bed while the cabinetfront 58 is lowered.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and use of the present folding bed will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. While I have described the principle of operation, together with an arrangement which I now consider to be a preferred embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the showings are primarily illustrative, and that such changes and developments may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope o the following claims. 7

I claim:

1. In a folding-bed frame, head and foot sections, a pair of hingedly connected intermediate sections, means hinging the different intermediate sections to the head and foot sections to provide for an extension of the frame with the sections in mutually coplanar relation or a folding of the frame with successive sections in mutually perpen dicular relationgf a cabinet having a drop front, support'means, onthe cabinet, said nections operative between the head frame section and the cabinet front whereby a lowering movement of the cabinet front is arranged to project the folded bed frame from the cabinet I and a closing movement of the cabinet front is arranged to withdraw the folded frame within the cabinet space.

2. The structure of claim 1 having the link connections comprising an arm extending transversely of and rigidly from the head frame member and a link connecting the arm with the cabinet front;

' :3. @[nla foldi g-bed frame, head and foot seczontal position for its partial extension from the icabinet' cavity, and link connections operative between the head frame section and said cabinet front and top members whereby a lowering movement of the cabinet front is arranged'to project the folding-bed frame from the cabinet and raise the top member and a closing movement of the cabinet front is arranged to with? draw the folded frame within the cabinet space and lower the top member.

4L 'In a folding-bed frame, a head section providing a support bracket in fixed transversely offset relation to it, means constantly supporting the head s ection in horizontal position with said bracket above it, a foot section, a pair of mutually hinged intermediate sections hinged to the head andfoot sections for an extension of the frame with the foot and intermediate sections in coplanar relation with the head section or for a folding of theframe to dispose successive sections in mutually perpendicular relation with th'foot section directly supported in upright position upon said bracket.

I Number 5. A folding-bed frame solely comprising a head section and two intermediate sections and a foot section directly hinged together in their order for an extension of the frame with the sections in mutually coplanar relation or for a folding of the frame to dispose successive sections to have the longitudinal lines thereof defining the sides of a quadrangle, means mounting the head section in constantly horizontal position, and

means whereby the intermediate and foot sections are supported solely from the head section when'the frame is folded.

6. A folding-bed frame solely comprising a .head section and two intermediate sections and "a foot section directly hinged together in their order for an extension of the frame with the sections in' mutually coplanar relation or for a folding of the frame to dispose successive sections to have the longitudinal lines thereof defining the sides of a quadrangle with the intermediate and foot sections supported entirely from the head section, a cabinet having a drop front, a support means on the cabinet, said support means slida'bly mounting the head section in constantly horizontal position for its longitudinal adjustment between fully retracted and forwardly eX- tended positions with respect to the cabinet space, and a link means cooperative between the head section and cabinet frontwhereby a lowering movement of the cabinet front is arranged to project the folded bed frame from the cabinet and a closing movement of the cabinet front is arranged to withdraw the folded frame within the cabinet space.

- MAR'IIN D. MIE'SNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,200,909 Andren Oct. 10, 1916 1,274,43'l- Miesner -Q Aug. 6, 1918 1,279,124! KlOk Sept. 17, 1918 1,366,820 Minnick Jan. 25, 1921 2,077,975 Wolff Apr. 20, 1937 2,378,114: Van Donk June 12, 1945 2,445,241 Pokorney et a1. July 13, 1948 

